Good Nights for Great Tomorrows

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Thoughts on Music and Sleep

Hidden fact about myself that barely anyone knows? I am addicted to ambient music. Whether it is New Age, Electronic, World, Celtic or straight Nature sounds, the more relaxing the better! My favorite ones? Anything that features cultural chanting or haunting melodies. It’s pretty much an addiction, and it makes my husband laugh! I have a ritual. Bathtime is my absolute favorite time of the day. Between the craziness of the work day to coming home to two unstoppable balls of energy toddlers, it is the only real time I have to myself. It is my time to relax, unwind and process what happened during the day and the things approaching in the days ahead. First thing I do, turn on Pandora and listen to a station that will make me feel like I have travelled thousands of miles to a foreign country.

The same goes for sleep. Relaxing and winding down is a big deal. Listening to peaceful music before bed can play a huge part in the quality of sleep you can experience. It is a time where you can separate yourself from any negative thoughts that occurred during the day. Ultimately, preventing your mind from running a hundred miles a minute. Speaking from the point of view of a profound worry wart, after the kids fall asleep I often find myself lying there thinking of all the things that need to be done at work, or the piles of laundry in the room that haven’t been folded for days! Sometimes I lay awake tossing and turning with thoughts until I get to the point where just sheer exhaustion will put me to sleep. By popping in my earphones and listening to music before bed, I notice a major change. The melodies and rhythm instantly calm my nerves and I am able to drift off to sleep. I also notice I sleep more deeply, my quality of sleep improves, and I don’t wake up as much in the middle of the night!

The less background distractions you have when trying to sleep with music is definitely better. I always like to make sure the room isn’t too cold or too warm, and I’m snuggled up nicely in my blankets, in a comfortable position. Usually this means making sure I have an equal distance away from the two little bodies next to me on both sides! It’s the worst is when I am just about to close my eyes and fall asleep, when all of a sudden I get a swift jab to the ribs! I usually need to make sure the TV is off so the intermittent bright flashing lights of Dora the Explorer do not distract me!

I’ve put together a quick playlist of some songs I’ve found help me drift off to dreamland, or shower in peace! I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.